Chelsea could still sign a replacement for Enzo Fernandes ahead of this weekend’s match against Arsenal.
Paul Pogba is a free player(Photo: Photography by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Chelsea may be tempted to enter the free agent market after a disappointing end to the summer transfer window. On Tuesday night, Monaco sold out Blues Down the river when They have suddenly banned Lamine Kamara from swapping Stade Louis II for Stamford Bridge At eleven o’clock
Football.London Understands that Chelsea have reached a written agreement with the Ligue 1 side for the 22-year-old midfielder worth £47m. But when Monaco thought they could benefit from Folarin Balogun instead, whose move to Everton collapsed earlier in the day, they cut ties with senior officials in west London.
Ironically, at the eleventh hour, The Toffees deal fell through for a second timeleaving the Ligue 1 team, with its reputation recently damaged, empty-handed.
Although it is understandable that Chelsea’s top brass were angry and had the opportunity to terminate Enzo Fernandes’ transfer to Manchester City, they decided to honor their word, unlike Monaco.
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Despite the Blues having a £125m transfer, Xabi Alonso has lost his body in the middle of the park. So, with that being said, Football.London I looked at five free agents Chelsea could sign to replace Fernandes.
Paul Pogba
Last month, Monaco terminated Pogba’s contract, cutting short his stay at the Stade Louis II by 12 months because the goals set by both parties were only “partially achieved”. The 33-year-old midfielder, whose previous contract was due to run until June 2027, made just six appearances, five of which came as a substitute, during an injury-plagued season.
Shortly before his release, Pogba suffered a hamstring problem during the pre-season training camp in England. At the moment, the severity of the issue remains unclear, but it has clearly delayed any potential transfer, having previously been linked with moves to clubs in Major League Soccer.
Marcelo Brozovic
Brozovic left Al-Nassr after his contract with Al-Nassr expired earlier this summer. Although the 33-year-old midfielder, who played a key role in helping Cristiano Ronaldo win the Saudi Professional League last season, would be a good addition to Chelsea’s squad on paper, he could also suffer from an injury.
At the end of last season, Brozovic suffered a thigh problem, missing the last game of the season as well as the AFC Champions League Final 2. If the Blues get assurances about his fitness, the Croatia international and Inter Milan legend could prove a coup.
Yves Bissouma
Bissouma left Tottenham Hotspur after his contract expired at the end of last June. The 30-year-old midfielder, who was signed by the Lilywhites from Brighton for £30m during the summer of 2022, has not made the desired impact in north London, with his final season plagued by injuries.
Renato Sanchez
According to widespread reports, Paris Saint-Germain terminated Sanchez’s contract on Tuesday evening, making him available to sign on a free transfer. The 29-year-old midfielder was dubbed a superstar when he burst onto the scene and helped Portugal win the European Championship in 2016.
Sanchez was crowned Young Player of the Tournament and secured a £27.5m transfer from Benfica to Bayern Munich. A year later, having struggled to live up to expectations, he was transferred on loan to Swansea before joining Lille in a desperate bid to revive his career.
After showing promising signs at Stade Pierre Maurois, Sanchez signed with Paris Saint-Germain. A year later, after an injury-plagued season in the French capital, he spent the next three seasons on loan at Roma, Benfica and Panathinaikos, which again struggled with injuries.
The Parisians have reportedly since split from the former Portuguese child prodigy…
Tanguy Ndombele
Ndombele left Nice after his contract expired last June. The 29-year-old midfielder joined Tottenham from Lyon for a club record fee of £63m during the summer of 2019 before widely falling short of expectations.
He spent the final years of his contract with the Lillywhites on loan at his former clubs Napoli and Galatasaray, before joining Nice on a free transfer. Ndombele suffered a groin problem towards the end of his first season on the French south coast, ruling him out until December of the following season.
The France international was never able to rebuild his fitness, making only a handful of appearances off the bench before being released…
